Device for demonstrating ski bindings

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR DEMONSTRATING SKI BINDINGS IN WHICH THE SKI BINDINGS ARE MOUNTED ON A BASE PLATE AND A SHOE OR A MODEL FORMED LIKE A SHOE SOLE IN ARRANGED BETWEEN THE BINDING PARTS. THE PLATE IS SUPPORTED FOR FLEXING OR THE MODEL IS SUPPORTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE THE LONGITUDINAL, OR SLIDE, ELASTICITY OF A BINDING PART.

Sept. 20, 1971 SMOLKA 3,605,288

DEVICE FOR DEMONSTRATING SKI BINDINGS Filed June 27, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet1 FIG! IUI

Sept. 20, 1971 1-. G. SMOLKA 3,605,288

DEVICE FOR DEMQNSTRATING SKI BINDINGS Filed June 27, 1969 3 Sheets-SheetI FIG.4

PIC-7.5

FIG.8

Sept. 20, 1971 'r. G. SMOLKA 3,605,288

DEVICE FOR DEMONSTRATING SKI BINDINGS Filed June 27, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheets was United States Patent 3,605,288 DEVICE FOR DEMONSTRATING SKIBINDINGS Thomas G. Smolka, Vienna-Mauer, Austria, assignor to WienerMetallwarenfabrik Smolka & Company, Vienna-Mauer, Austria Filed June 27,1969, Ser. No. 837,122 Claims priority, application Austria, July 1,1968,

Int. Cl. G09]: 25/00 US. C]. 35-49 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adevice for demonstrating ski bindings in which the ski bindings aremounted on a base plate and a shoe or a model formed like a shoe sole inarranged between the binding parts. The plate is supported for flexingor the model is supported for longitudinal movement in order todemonstrate the longitudinal, or slide, elasticity of a binding part.

The invention relates to a device for demonstrating ski bindings inwhich a ski binding is mounted on a base plate and a shoe, or a modelformed like a shoe sole, is received between the parts of such binding.

Devices for demonstrating ski bindings are already known with whichdemonstration may be made of the sideward yielding and release of theski bindings as well as the upward yielding and release of same, asthey, for example, will occur during a fall forwardly. While thesedevices fulfill their purpose as thus far stated, it has so far not beenpossible to demonstrate in a simple manner that a binding also exerts athrust against the shoe. If, for example, the longitudinal elasticity ofa cableless heel tensioning means were to be shown, the primarily knownbinding had to be moved back by hand which required great strength.

A longitudinal elasticity is generally required in ski bindings. Ithappens quite often during skiing that the ski bends. This somewhatreduces the space between the binding parts. If the binding parts shouldbe arranged fixedly on the ski, they would longitudinally compress theshoe sole which would damage both the shoe sole and the bindingcomponents. Therefore, at least one binding part is preferablyconstructed with some longitudinal elasticity so that this binding partcan yield during such flexing of the ski.

The purpose of the invention is to demonstrate by means of ademonstrator device this longitudinal elasticity which is required inpractice. To attain this purpose the invention provides that fordemonstrating the longitudinal yielding of a binding part, the baseplate is supported in a manner to permit same to bend or the model issup ported so that it can itself move.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the base platerests on two supports and is connected in its central zone to a leversystem. The plate is advantageously connected to a guide and actuatingportion which is engaged by a lever which is pivotally supported at oneend. A spring is supported on said actuating portions. In one particularconstruction, the base plate is connected to an actuating portion whichhas a threaded member on which there is arranged an approximatelyhandwheelshaped nut which is itself supported on the device.

In a further construction of the invention, the model consists of twoparts which are movable to one another which parts are held with respectto one another by one or more springs. One of the model parts has one ormore recesses into which one or more bolts which are eccentricallyarranged on a disk are receivable. The thus eccentrically supported diskis provided with a lever-like handle 3,605,288 Patented Sept. 20, 1971and contacts the other model half upon suitable rotation thereof toeffect a relative movement of both model halves with respect to oneanother.

Further recesses can be provided so that the upward and sidewardyielding can also be demonstrated with the eccentric disk.

The subject matter of the invention is shown for illustrative purposesby the several embodiments appearing in the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a demonstrator device of the invention in twoditterent positions.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail seen in the direction of the arrow III ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diiferent exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate a further possible modification whereby FIGS. 6and 7 are sectional planes associated with one another and FIG. 5 is aninclined sectional plane of a model of a shoe sole.

FIG. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, a front jaw 2 and a heel tensioning means 3are mounted on a base plate 1 adjacent the ends thereof. This plate 1 issupported outboard of the members 2 and 3 on supports 4 of thedemonstrator platform 5. A model 6 which has the shape of a shoe sole isclamped between the binding parts 2 and 3. The plate 1 is rigidlyconnected to the actuating portion 7 approximately in the center. Alever 8 is-pivotably supported at its one end by the pivot 9 and a pin10 which is arragned on the actuating portion 7 engages a slot 11 of thelever 8.

When the lever 8 is operated, the base plate 1 with the binding partsthereon is pulled downwardly and assumes the curved position as shown inFIG. 2. This curving effectively reduces the distance between thebinding parts so that the heel tensioning means 3 is moved backwardly onits rail 12. This movement can be clearly recognized in comparing FIGS.1 and 2. In returing the lever, which can also be done automatically bythe spring 13 which is supported on the actuating portion, the plate 1returns to its straight position of FIG. 1. The heel binding 3 thenslides back to its original position due to its own longitudinal, orslide, elasticity on the rail 12.

In FIG. 4, the actuating portion 7 has a threaded member 14 on which anapproximately handwheel-shaped nut 15 is arranged. By rotating said nut15, which is supported on the platform 5, the plate 1 is bent as before.By rotating the nut 15 in opposite direction, the plate 1 returns to thestraight position. This base plate 1 is here constructed resiliently sothat it tends at all times to assumes its horizontal position.

According to the construction of FIGS. 5 to 7, the model is formed likea shoe and consists of two halves end parts 16 and 17. These modelhalves 16, 17 are guided longitudinally to one another and, as can beparticularly seen in FIG. 7, springs 18 are arranged therebetween andtend to maintain both model halves 16, 17 with respect to one another insuch a manner that they assume their shortest dimension. In the zone ofthe guide means there are provided cover or guide plates 19, 20 whichprevent a raising of one portion of the model with respect to the other.

The model half 17 has a slot-shaped recess 21. Further recesses 22 areprovided adjacent said slot 21. A camming disk 24 which is provided witha lever 8 has eccentrically arranged bolts or pins 23 on both sides.These bolts are guided into the recesses 22. If the disk 24 is rotated,its peripheral face contacts the adjacent edge of the second model half16 and both model halves are moved relatively to one another against thepressure of the relatively weak springs 18 and the pressure of thelongitudinal elasticity of the binding. This causes the heel binding 3to move backwardly in the rails 12 from the position indicated indash-dotted lines to the position indicated in full lines. In moving thelever 8 with the eccentric disk 24 in the opposite direction, both modelhalves 16, 17 return together again and the heel binding slides into theposition which is indicated in dash-dotted lines. In the plan view ofFIG. 7, the guide plate 19 is not illustrated in order to betterillustrate the relationship of the two model halves 16, 17.

With this device it is also possible advantageously to demonstrate thevertical and lateral elasticity of a binding and also the upward andside release thereof. To demonstrate the elasticity and release in anupward direction, the lever 8 is positioned with the bolts 23 in therecesses 25. The disk 24 is then caused to bear against the platform andupon a rotation of the lever 8, the model halves 16, 17 are lifted in anupward direction. In demonstrating the side elasticity or the siderelease, the lever 8 is placed with one bolt 23 in one of the bores 26and is rotated. The eccentric disk 24 thereby presses the model halves16, 17 toward the side thereof.

In FIG. 8, the bolts 23 are placed into a fixed abutment 27 and the disk24 is supported on a step-shaped shoulder 28 of the guide portion 7.During rotation of the lever 8, the plate 1 is again bent downwardly.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiments. Anumber of further modifications are possible all of which will liewithin the scope of the invention. For example, the plate 1 could besupported in its supports by means of pivotal joints. It is alsopossible to arrange the plate 1 to be bendable in an upward direction.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device for demonstrating ski bindings, comprising in combination:

a flexible base plate;

toe and heel engaging means atop and adjacent the ends of said baseplate for gripping a model of a ski shoe sole therebetween andsupporting same with respect to said base plate;

means supporting at least one of said toe and heel engaging means forlongitudinal movement with respect to said base plate;

means for supporting said base plate adjacent and outboard of said toeand heel engaging means; manually operable mechanical advantage,tensioning means including a post rigidly fixed to the underside of saidflexible base plate and depending therefrom, said post being locatedintermediate the locations of said toe and heel engaging means, andmanually actuable, force multiplying means engaging said post forflexing the intermediate portion of said base plate downwardly away fromsaid model to cause 7 for supporting said base plate comprises aplatform which engages said base plate at spaced locations forsupporting same.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said post is threaded andprojects through an opening in said platform and said force multiplyingmeans comprises a nut threadedly engaged with the threaded portion ofsaid post on the side of said platform opposite said base plate wherebymovement of said nut relative to said threaded post causes flexing ofsaid base plate.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein said force multiplying meansincludes lever means cooperating with said post and platform to exert aforce on said base plate to cause flexing thereof.

5. A device for demonstrating ski bindings, comprising in combination:

a base plate and means supporting same;

toe and heel engaging means and means supporting same on said baseplate, at least one of said toe and heel engaging means being movablelongitudinally with respect to said platform and said supporting meansthereof;

a shoe model engaged at the ends thereof and supported with respect tosaid base plate by said toe and heel engaging means, said shoe modelcomprising first and second longitudinally arranged end parts capable oflongitudinal movement with respect to each other;

manually operable, mechanical advantage means for moving the adjacentone of said first and second parts longitudinally of said base plate andtoward said one of said heel and toe engaging means engaged therewith;

whereby to demonstrate the ability of said one of said heel and toeengaging means to move longitudinally of said base plate.

6. A device according to claim 5 including springs disposed between saidfirst and second end parts and operatively arranged for urging saidparts toward each other and in which said mechanical advantage meansincludes a camming element pivotally supported with respect to one ofsaid end parts and including means bearing in camming relation on theother of said end parts and having lever means actuable for moving saidend parts apart against the urging of said springs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 213,362 3/1879 Usher 73l00658,547 9/1900 Kennedy 3557 2,338,338 1/1944 Kieckhefer 73--1002,590,648 3/1952 Pitz 36-3 1X 2,693,107 11/1954 Paden 73100X 2,919,5751/1960 Richards 73100 3,363,342 l/l968 Stohr 362.5AL

' 3,467,374 9/1969 Auer 27257 3,514,118 5/1970 Baccheschi 280-11.35HA

HARLAND S. SKOGQUIST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

